Expressway sign



United States Patent 3,538,633 EXPRESSWAY SIGN Frederick H. Elliott,Jr., 63 Maplewood Drive, East Greenwich, RI. 02818 Filed Apr. 15, 1968,Ser. No. 721,337 Int. Cl. G09f 11/18 U.S. Cl. 40-129 4 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A portable sign including a housing having windowsformed therein through which messages are visible, the messages Ibeingimprinted on movable tapes located within the housing, illuminationmeans that are located in the housing being provided for illuminatingthe messages as they appear on the tapes.

The present invention relates to improvements in signs and moreparticularly to an improved sign for use on expressways.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved sign foruse on expressways to promote safety wherein the sign is portable andhas a series of messages from which a single message can 'be positionedfor exposure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved signfor use on expressways wherein an extensive choice of messages isavailable for use according to need and wherein the sign is portable,Weatherproof and self contained.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improvedexpressway sign which is compact, simple to transport and use andinexpensive in construction.

Various other objects and advantages will becomes apparent from thedetailed description to follow.

The expressway sign consists of a portable, weatherproof housingcontaining a set of tapes carried on rollers, wherein the tapes carrymultiple emergency messages for selective exposure, with illuminationmeans for the messages.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my improved expressway sign;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof with the front panel removedto expose the interior components;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 33in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 44in FIG. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals applyto like parts throughout, it will be seen that I have provided animproved expressway sign which includes a housing 12, support means 14,tape means 16, and illumination means 18.

The housing can be formed in a variety of constructions and materials.For example, the housing can be formed of sheet metal having a frontpanel 28, side panels 22, 24, bottom panel 26 and top panels 28, 30 allsuitably joined in weathertight relation, as will readily be understood.Welded seams or weather-stripping at the joints are examples.

The front panel is formed with at least one window 32 and preferablythree as shown. Transparent or translucent 3,538,633 Patented Nov. 10,1970 plastic 34 can seal the openings while providing visibility. Theplastic pieces 34 can be secured in position in any desired fashion.

The side panel 24 has an access door 36 removably secured by screws 38for a purpose to be described.

The support means 14 includes any suitable wheel arrangement such as thepair of wheels 40 journalled on shaft 42 which in turn is resilientlycarried on spring bar 44, the latter being secured to bottom panel 26 bybolts or the like.

The tape means 16 includes at least one and preferably three tapes 46,one for each window. The tapes are formed of suitable material such asplastic or metal and have multiple messages carried thereby. For examplethe tape can be transparent tape with the message printed thereon as at47 or cut-out or it could be thin metal with the message punched-out.The tapes are rolled on rollers 48, 50 which are journalled on shafts52, 54 supported in the top and bottom panels 28 and 26. The rollers ateach end have one of their flanges formed with gear teeth as at 56, 58for cooperation with the worm on each shaft 60. The latter arejournalled in bearings as at 62 so as to extend outwardly of the casing.Also the shafts 60 have at their free outer ends a rectangularcross-section so as to be adapted to receive a suitably formed crankthereon, as at 64, whereby the shafts 60 can be rotated to rotate thecooperative roller and thus wind the tape in either direction to exposea selected message.

The illuminating means 18 includes a series of lights 66 mounted onboard 68 within the housing and behind translucent panel 70 which inturn is 'behind the tapes. Thus, the lights 66 serve to illuminate theselected message shown through the front panel windows. A battery 72 isconnected to the lamps and an exterior switch 74 serves to controllighting.

The battery can be replaced through access door 36.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the instant design ofexpressway sign can be towed to a selected site and placed in a suitableposition. Then the rollers can be cranked until the selected emergencymessage is exposed and the sign is illuminated as by red or amberlights. Flashing lights may also be used if desired.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an improved expressway signsuitable for emergency use where needed.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than bythe description preceding them, and all changes that fall within themetes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well asconjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to beembraced by these claims.

I claim:

1. A portable sign for use on roadways, comprising a housing including afront panel in which at least one window is formed, an elongated tapemounted for movement in said housing in close proximity to said windowand having a series of messages imprinted thereon that are selectivelyaligned with said window, spaced rollers mounted for rotating movementin saidhousing and receiving said tape therearound, wherein rotation ofsaid rollers provides for selection of a message on said tape forviewing through said window, the axes of said rollers being disposed in5 ticular device, those parts of the picture which are to be paintedwith the same or similar colors to be painted different shades of thechosen color to enhance the illusion of movement and depth to the viewerwhen viewed through said lens sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 2,832,593 4/1958 Anderson40-137 X 2,954,615 10/1960 Brown 35-26 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, PrimaryExaminer 5 R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

